On the move: Hirings and promotions from the Tampa Bay business world

By Dolly Brosan, Times Staff Writer
Published April 15, 2007

Randall Weeks Director of surgical services, Oak Hill Hospital

Randall Weeks, a registered nurse, assumes his new role with HCA Healthcare Co.'s Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville after six years with HCA. Weeks served eight years as a military police officer, infantryman and personnel administration specialist in the Army, where he earned the Army Commendation and Army Achievement medals. Before joining Oak Hill, he was director of surgical services at Edward White Hospital, St. Petersburg, and an operating room nurse at Denver Health Medical Center. He is enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at St. Petersburg College.

Mathias Bergendahl Director of communications, Pinellas Realtor Organization

Mathias Bergendahl brings more than eight years of public relations experience to his new role with the Pinellas Realtor Organization, a Clearwater professional organization. Bergendahl previously served as marketing and public relations manager for the Florida International Museum and executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Bergendahl earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Schiller International University in Dunedin after studies at the Stockholm University in Sweden; State University of New York; and Schiller International University's Heidelberg, Germany, campus.

Claire Calzon Managing director/office services/principal, Colliers Arnold

Claire Calzon brings 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and project leasing to Tampa commercial real estate firm Colliers Arnold, where she will handle the leasing and marketing efforts of the SunTrust Financial Centre. Most recently, Calzon was senior vice president in charge of project leasing for Trammell Crow Co., now CB Richard Ellis, where her portfolio included more than 3-million square feet of Class A office high-rise towers. She is a member of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, Westshore Alliance and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Gene Ward Director of revenue management, Sandpearl Resort

Gene Ward brings more than 10 years of experience in hotel/resort revenue management, including executive team involvement with planning and pre-openings for two luxury hotels, to his new post with Coral Hospitality's Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach. The 253-room, eight-story Sandpearl will open this summer. Most recently, Ward was director of revenue management at the Lodge at Ocean Hammock in Palm Coast, and has held the same job at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C., GF Hotel Management in Philadelphia and the Westin and Sheraton Palo Alto in California.

ACCOUNTING

Schifino Lee Advertising & Public Relations, Tampa, announces these appointments: Tim Gardner to controller; and Matt Stiegman to senior copywriter. Gardner was controller at Tucker Hall Public Relations, Tampa; and Stiegman was a freelance copywriter and was a copywriter and account executive at WestWayne Advertising, Tampa.

ARCHITECTURE

Bryant Watson has been named a designer at K4 Architecture LLC, Tampa. Watson was an architectural intern at Reynolds Smith & Hills, Tampa.

BANKING

Fifth Third Bank, Tampa, announces these appointments: Karina MacLaren Thompson, manager at Fifth Third's new financial center location at Keystone location off Van Dyke Road and Gunn Highway; and C. Winton Littlejohn, named vice president and affiliate credit manager. Thompson was a banking center manager at Bank of America, Tampa; and Littlejohn was a portfolio specialist with SunTrust Bank, Tampa.

Nora Blomgren has been named vice president and branch manager for Patriot Bank's Ridge Road office in Port Richey. Blomgren was branch manager at Synovus Bank, Port Richey.

Bill Vandeven has been named vice president and branch manager at BankUnited Financial Corp.'s new Clearwater branch. Vandeven was a financial specialist at Wachovia Bank, Indian Rocks Beach.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Dr. Mahesh Amin has been named to the board of directors at Anderen Bank, Clearwater. Amin is chief of staff at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater.

CONSTRUCTION

Peter Pascucci has been named director of multifamily development at Metro Development Group, Tampa. Pascucci was vice president of land operations for Lexington Homes in New Port Richey.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry Tampa Bay Chapter has inducted Don Strobel into the NARI Hall of Fame. Strobel is founder and president of Strobel Design Build, St. Petersburg.

Krista D. Munroe has been promoted to sales coordinator and Melanie Kohler has been promoted to marketing coordinator, both at MiraBay, SouthShore, in Hillsborough County. Munroe was a sales assistant; and Kohler was a community representative for Newland Communities' FishHawk Ranch, Lithia.

DIRECT MAIL

Valpak, Largo, announces these promotions and appointments: Promotions are Deanna Willsey to director of corporate communications; and Michael Martino to director of Valpak.com. And Bill Silberman was appointed to director of compensation and benefits. Willsey was external communications manager; Martino was director of network development; and Silberman was director of organization development and training and also served as classification and compensation manager at the University of South Florida, Tampa.

ENGINEERING

Gene Robinson has been promoted to manager of instrumentation and controls at McKim & Creed, Clearwater. Robinson was a senior project manager.

HEALTH CARE

JSA Healthcare Corp., St. Petersburg, announces these hiring and appointments: Hired were Maria Pugh to center support manager; and Aaron Ratliff to outcomes improvement coordinator. And Pat Harp was promoted to projects nurse/case manager. Pugh was case manager at Largo Medical Hospital; Ratliff was case-management nurse at Edward White Hospital, St. Petersburg; and Harp was outcomes improvement coordinator.

Dr. Mairaj Uddin and Dr. Gloria Lopez have joined the staff at Bestcare Family & Geriatric Care, Clearwater. Uddin was chief medical resident at St. Banabas Hospital, New York; and Lopez graduated from Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico and completed her residency in Duluth, Minn.

INSURANCE

Jack Rice Insurance Inc., Largo, announces these promotions and appointments: Promotions are Michael Letourneau to property and casualty account executive; and Sherry Yederlinic to commercial lines manager. And Linda Shaffer was appointed to personal lines account executive. Letourneau was select account sales representative; Yederlinic was process manager; and Shaffer was an account executive/office manager with State Farm Insurance Mary Ellen Roth Agency in Fishkill, N.Y.

LEGAL

Shane Hart has been elected treasurer of the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council. Hart is a partner at Holland & Knight, Tampa, and a member of the private wealth services section.

Robert R. Hearn has been named an equity partner in the regional commercial litigation practice group at Phelps Dunbar LLP, Tampa. Hearn was clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

John McLaughlin has become of Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. McLaughlin is a partner at Wagner, Vaughan, McLaughlin & Brennan PA, Tampa.

RADIO

Michelle Kalanja has been named director of sales at WLCC-AM 760 and WMGG-AM 820, both in Tampa. Kalanja was director of sales for Clear Channel, Las Vegas.

[Last modified April 13, 2007, 19:16:39]